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13 charged with running Worcester-based drug ring

  • Posted by Worcester News 10 hours ago - Filed in News - #Worcester  #crime  #drugs  #U.S. Attorney  - 535 views


    U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts photo

    3 Worcester men are among 13 individuals charged for their alleged roles in a Worcester-based drug trafficking organization that authorities say distributed cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana across Central Massachusetts and Puerto Rico.

    Sheldon Herring, 48, of Worcester; Duamel Ocasio, 55, of Worcester; and Anthony Hines, 57, of Worcester were charged with a count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.

    Also charged were Justin Gilchrest, 34, of Webster; Stephen Bandilla III, 55, of East Brookfield; Jack Saez Jr., 34, of Dayville, Connecticut; Christopher Rivera Rodriguez, 32, of Puerto Rico; Jan Carlos Martinez Mendez, 23, of Puerto Rico; Dayanara Mendez of Dayville, Connecticut; Shaquille De Jesus Torres, 32, of Puerto Rico; Gerardo Villegas Rodriguez, 28, of the Dominican Republic; Alondra Daleishka Cruz Mendoza, 23, of Puerto Rico; and Ushuuaniliz Hernandez Rios, 21, of Puerto Rico.

    According to charging documents, Saez is alleged to have led the drug trafficking organization, which investigators say received packages through the mail containing kilogram quantities of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico for distribution in Massachusetts.

    Authorities allege that more than 10 kilograms of cocaine shipped through the mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in Worcester County were seized during the investigation. The organization is also accused of distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    Searches of multiple stash houses and residences in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico allegedly resulted in the seizure of 8 guns along with distribution quantities of other narcotics, prosecutors said.

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence would be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable statutes.

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